Cotton-picking machine.



N. BOWDITGH. COTTON PIGKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0012s. 1905.

1,1 19,795. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHBETS SHEET 1.

N. BOWDITGH.

COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012s, 1905.

1, 1 1 9,795. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 sums-sun's.

N. BOWDITCH.

COTTON PIGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001". a. 1905.

1,1 19,795. Patented Dec.8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mffnepjsefi -Z52 67221307", Y MW @w 9 M N. BOW BITCH.

OQTTOR PIGKING MACHINE. ufLioulon FILED 001. a. 1905.

1,1 19,795 Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 if p I J .25

- 3O is a-=view of one'of the engaging devices NATHANIEL owm'roH, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

COTTQN-PICKING MACHINE v To all whom it may coiwe'r'n. Be it known that LNATHANIEL Bownrrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at '.-uirora:, in the county of Kane and State of 'llllnOlS, have invented a. certain new and useful Iinprovement'in Cotton-Picking Maichines, of which the following is aspecificm tion.

-My invention re'hites to cotton picking machines and has forits object to provide a new and improved deviceifor picking cotton from the plants. o Referring to the accompanying drawings 'wherein vI have illustrated my invention,

Figure Lisa plan view of'a machine embodyiiig the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged 'sectional viewshowing a portion of one'of the wheelsof-the machine; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation with parts-cut away showing theexterior faces of one of the wheels of "the machine; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4- of Fig. 2; Fig. is a view showi-n'g-thecam: slot on the hub of one .of the wheels; Fig. 6 isa view showing thecain slot flattened out; Fig. .7 is asectional view 'showingoneof the guides for the pickers; Fig. Sis an exterior view of the guideof Fig. 7; Fig.9 is a' sectional view taken on line 9+9 of Fig. 7; Fig; 10 is a sectional view taken on line -1010 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11

through which the pickers pass; Fig. 12 is a view of the flanged disk which forms a guide for the actuating parts.

' Likeletters refer to like parts throughout the-several figures. J

"Referring now to the drawings, 1 have shown in Fig. 1 oneform of cottonpicking device embodying'my invention. This device is provided with tw'o wheels A, having I a. space between them. The machine is drawn along the ground so thatthe row of cottonplants come between the two wheels. one wheelbeing on each side thereof. These wheels are mounted upon an axle A" upon which they rotate. A series of spiral'cotton picking devices B are associated with each wheehsaid picking devices passing through guides B attachedto the wheel. said guides being shown more in detail in Fig. 7. These pickers are provided with flexible picker points B which project laterally therefrom and which en age the cotton when the pickrs are rotated about such. pickers. The ends of these'pick Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed October 6, 1905. Serial No. 281,592.

. l so as to cause it to be wound 'PatentedDec. 8, 191 4.

ers are connected to bars C, there being a series of these bars extending around the wheel, as shown in Fig. 3. The pickers are rotatably mounted in these bars" inany desired manner. Thevbars C'are held in posi-- tionby any desired means,"as -for example .by the rods C, and are movedback and forth along said rods so as to piish the pickers in and out through the guides. This movement of the pickers causes them'to rotate about theiraxis. The picker bars C are moved back and forth by means of the levers D, which are fastened (30"tl16l32l-1S in any desired manner. As herein shown, these levers are bifurcated andifastened to the,

bars by means of holdingpieces D which pass through the bars, the levers being bmits the levers to move with rel'a-tion to the ars.

The hub' A of the wheelis provided with a groove A extending completely therearound. see Fig. 4; and the ends of the levers. D fit into th s groove; thejends being rounded so that-the levers can rock-back and forth. Eachlever is preferably provided 1' with a projectionD, adapted to be engaged by a 'cap piece I) attached t0 the hub -"of the wheel so as to hold the'lever in place". The cap D is cu't away as shown to permi t the free rocking ofthe lever and is 'removably held in'place by-the screws D. These screws are made long as shown so as to projectaway from the center and to a-p'oint where their ends'are accessible. It} will thus be seen that each of the levers D is provided vvitliii holding piece D lvhich'prevehts' the slotted, as at D, to receive them. T his-per'-. I

levers .from being withdrawn from the' groove A. Connected with each of these levers betwecn its ends, is a actuating piece E, the connection being a slotted'connection to permit. relative movement between them.

Each actuating piece is provided with a projecting part E. which is preferably a roller, and which passes between two guiding devices F and F, the guiding devices arranged so as to form a cam slot FF into which the pro jections ll ext-end. The parts F d F are fastened in any suitable manner, as )y means of bolts. to the cylindrical part F which is mounted upon a sleeve 'F having a projecting flange F, the sleeve being keyed or otherwise fixed to axle A. A bolt or pin F passes through this sleeve and enters an opening in the axle so as to prevent the so as to var y the position of the cam slot-and the guiding parts F and F By arranging the guiding de ices I and F so to make the cam slotchange in direction, it'w-ill beseen thatthe actuating device; 1*) and the lever D and the. bar C and associated pickers can be moved back and-forth so as to thrust-- the pickers through the wheel and cause them to engage the cotton on the plants and movement.

then withdraw than into the wheel, so as to wipe otl the cotton which has become wrapped thereahout hecause of their rotary In view o-ftLe fact that the ma.- chine is moving forward, the pickers are in [contact with the cotton plants onlya short tact 1S hemg 1113i tation is so desirable and 110035;.

time audit is, therefore, desirable to cause the pickers to rotate rapidly while this con- I This result is ecured hy arranging the gunling' derices so as to give the cam slot the propershape. The pickers should be thrust out when they are near the ground. I also interpose between the pieker's-and the acpiating piece what may be called a; multip ying device or mechanism, which multiplies the. movement of the pickers, and which is -.arranged eso as to he br'oiightintooperation at. the time when the. pickers are *in contact with the'cotton hells, thus giving the pickers a comparatively high speedof rotation at'this time when such m Of course evident-that rarious mechanisms or devicesmay be used for this purpose, and I have only attempted to shows. simple construction. It will be seen that the movement of the actuating piece E ismult-iplied so as to increase the. movement of the pickers resulting' therefrom.

Referring now to Fig. v6, which shows the guiding devices and the cam slot developed or flattened out, zitlwill he noted that this cam slot :is straight aportion of its length and is 'then' given a sharp incline. -\Vhen, for example, the rollers of the actuating de-- vices are located in-the cam slot at the point E the pickers are entirely drawn within the wheel-land guides; As the roller moves along the straight portion of :thcslot, there is no outward movement of the pickers:- \Vhed the roller reaches the point Efi-there is an incline inthe guides and-slot to the'point E This throws th'epicke'rs out a portion of their lengtlrand the cam is in such position that this occurs the pickers approach the ground. From the point E to the point E there is a sharp inclm'e'and the pickers, are

during this portion of the rotation forced rapidly outward and thus given a rapid ro tation and the cams are arranged so that v his occurs when'the pickers are in the most effective contact with the cotton plant. From the'point E to the point FF the sharp incline is in the opposite direction, thuscausing the pickers to he rapidly withdrawn from the cotton plant. Before the complete withdrawal from the pickers, the sharp incline ceases and a gradual incline occurs to the point E. \Vhcn the'point E is reached, the pickers are near the outward limit of their travel and are .orer the hopper G, (see Fig. 1). There :is then comparativel' v sharp incline to the point E which causesthe pickers .to be entirely withdrawn in the wheel,-. and the cotton wound about them thus strikes the-face ,ot'the wheel and is wiped off and falls into the hopper. It then carried to a suitable receptacle by means of a coni'eyer G? or other mechanism but. as such mechanism is no part. of my present invention I have not described it. in detail. It will thus be seen that the pickers are thrust rapidly out into the cotton plant so as to be given a rapid rotation, that they. then engage the cotton and it hecomeswound about the pickers;.rn d istor! fronr the rotton bolls, and that these pickers are then rapidly withdrawn a portion of their length and are finally drawn within the wheel when they reach the top. part thereof side as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 6. In

this pos'ition it does not engage- .the rollers of the-actuating piece and hence the machine can he moved from place to place without operatingthe pickers. The actuating parts I) are-arranged-so as to, resist -latera'l strain, as this isnccessarytoaroid cramping, because of the factthat these guides have to resist what may develop-into a very heavy cramping strainat ce-rt-ain points of the circuit of travehpnamely at the point where they make contact with the cotton plants. In order to secure this result I provide a flanged disk H which is mounted upon the axleA" and connected with. the huh of the Wheel so as to rotate therewith. The flange H of this vdiskis provided with a series of grooves H (see Figs. 2, 3 and 12) of sutlicient width to receive the actuating parts E. T he actuating parts are located in these grooves and slide back and fo'rtlrtherein. It will thus be seen that they have a long hearing which takes up the lateral strain which hecomeswiry great at every revolution of the wheel when the inclined part of the cam is reached. \Vhen it is desired to throw the device out of gear, the guiding piece F is moved outwardly to the right, that is to the outer edge of the support F.

Thisis done by loosening'the screws by which it is fastened. When in'this position it becomes inoperative-and hence thepickers will not be moved by the rotation-I of the wheel.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 11 inclusive, I have illustrated oneforin of guiding device for the spiral pickers. This device consists of a casing preferably square except at engaging -piejees J are slippedinto these.

the end I which 18. round and screwi threaded; This casing may be cast and "in such event the square or rectangular portion wouldbe made with three sides integral, as

- 'showninIFig. 9, while the other side 1 is screws 'I' or the like located at one end, the

made separate and attached by mean s'of guides before the side 1 is added.v These engaging pieces are provided with slots J through which thespiral pickers ass and it is'the engagement of; the sideso the spiral pickers withthe edges of these slots that causes the pickers to rotate whenfreci "c'ated, In thisconstru'ction the-metal: at the two edges of the slot between its ends-projects-inwardly and are rounded, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11. These-engaging 'pieces' may also be cast if desired and the slots are provided at each end with enlargements J, -the end portions of the slot being wider thanthe metal portion; By this construction the flexible picker points B on the pickers pass through the enlarged ends of the slots and thus do not .make frictional contact with the sides thereof, and wear'andinju ry tosuch left endof Fig.- 7.

picker points is prevented. lVhen the engaging pieces J are separated a distance equal to the'pitch of the spiral, the slots are parallel, but if'sep arated a distance only half this pitch oneslot will be at right-angles to the other, as shown for example at the Any number of these engaging devices that inay be desired can be used in each guide.-- he enlarged engaging faces of theengaging devices at the edge of the slot may be case hardened ifdesired. The end piece I is provided with iniclinedfaces I substantially uniform in width so'that in case the picker is out of line with the slot I in the end thereof, it will be guided by these inclined faces so as. to pass through the slot. Mounted uponthe flange H of the flanged disk H is a disk K to which is connected a series of braces K conal ng which the picker bars C move.

' limit myself to the particular construction It will be noted that I have shown in the present cotton picking device a simple con struction arranged to secure strength and durability. It will further be noted'that the bars D are connected with the picker bars and have a direct connection with the hub of the wheeh I have described in detail a particular construction embodying my invention, but it is,

of course, evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars and some of the parts omitted and others used with parts not here shown without departing from the spirit of my invent-ion. I, therefore, do notfurther. be noted .that there are connected 7 with each bar C a series of laterally projecting arms, to which pickers are connected. This 'is also an important feature; as it greatly increases the number of pickers and permits the proper position thereof so as to insure the pickers coming into contact with all of the bolls of the cotton plants.

I claim: I

.r 1. A. wheeled cotton piching'device'com rising. a picker, a reciprocating bar to which said picker is connected, a lever connected at one end to said bar and at the other end fulcrumed upon the hub of the wheel, and an actuating device for said isver. Y

2- A.wlieeled cotton picking device com-' prising a. picker, a reciprocating bar to .said actuating piece is received.

3. A cotton picking device comprising a rotatable wheel, a picker mounted thereon, a bar to which said picker isconnected, a lever connected with said ha r and pivoted to a part of said wheel, and means for rock ing said lever about its pivotal point so as to. reciprocate the picker.

4. A cotton picking device comprising a reciprocating rotatable picker, :1 pivoted lever connected with the picker so as to move it in the direction of its length and adapt cd to be rotated about an axis, an actuating part connected with said pivoted lever, a cam device for actuating said actuating part having a slot for said actuating part, and

means for moving said cam device and actuating part relativelyto reciprocate said actuatingpart to move saidlever.

5. -A cotton picking device eoi-nprising a whee/L an axle upon; which it"is'mounted, a v picker mounted on saidwvheel, an actuating mechanism therefor, comprising a 'ICClPlO- part rotating with the wheel, a controlling device for said movable part, and a movement multiplying device connecting the movable part with the piekeri 13. A cotton picking 'device comprising a wheel, a spiral cotton picker, a guide on the eating actuating part having a'movement in :the direction ofits length, a groove in which ,sa d partwoi ks, a. cam device fixed-to the axleand a projection on -the actuating" part engaging said cam device whereby'the actuating pa rt is reciproeatedrwhen the wheel :5 rotated. V i

6. A' cotton picking device comprising a wheel, an axle upon which: said avheel is mounted, a picker carried by said wheel, an

actuating mechanism for said -.picker com" pl'lSll'lg'tl' cain device, asupport upon which picker:

wheel through which-said picker passes, said 'guide'ihaving ineiins adapted 'to cause the picker to rotate when moving longitudi- {'nally, a movable actuating piece, and a movement multiplying: device connecting said movable actuating. piece with said 14. n -cotton piekingl 'coinni ising a wheel, a se'r-ies of-cottonfpickers-rotating i with the wheel, a" ban to which said cotton. pickers 'a re connected, an actuatin'g part, and

actuating part and 'sai'd bar.

the cam device is carried,-andto which thel 1 cam device is removably connected, said sup-. port athustablv mounted upon .non-rota-. table partso that it may be ad1usted tovary theposition of iie cam device.

I. A cotton picking device comprising a series of cotton aiii zki-i-s, a series of bars to .\vliich they are connected, an i-actuatingvuneehanism, associated with each cotton picker bar ('ompvisii'ig a. reciprocating, ac. .tllating pa rt, a flanged disk? connectedi'so as e i to rotate withthe wheel and .iprovided ugith a',

series'of slots extending through the tlange thereof, said reciprocating, actuatingparts L working in said slots. v 8. A cotton p cking device comprising a a movement inultifilyiiigdevice between said 11').- A cotton'picking device-comprising a wheel, a series of pickeis mounted thereon,

.the wheel engaged bv a bar to avhieh saidvpickerszare connected, an actuating piece actuating with saidbar,

V a movement :inulti-pl'ying device connecting said actuating; pieceand--'saidj-bar, an engagingdeviceon saidfiactuating piece; and a controlling cam; associatedfivitlr the axle of saidengaging-device. 16. A cotton-pie ng devicei- -comprisin a wheel, a-serics of cottxm pickers rotating itherewitlnl bar to whi'ch said pickers are attached, aurockingf lever attached j to said bar, an actuating-1 device for said lever, and

means for J-inoving s'aid; ,actnating device with relation .to said wheel when the wheel connected. vvitlnsaid bicker at right angles thereto, apivoted le'ivenpivoted atone end i to said bar and at theother endto a part of substantially parallel therewith, and an in the machi'ne,- and anactuating partuconnected with said lever between its two pivoted parts so as to move it about its PlVOl,;ll .p0lHl).

S3, A cotton picking machine comprising a picker, a glllt" through which the-pickerpasses -an actuating piece for the picker,

termcdiate l'iillllllllhllng device connected;

with the picker and with the actuatingpiece for increasing or multiplying the motionof the actuating piece.

10. A cotton picking device comprising a wheel, a' rotatable cotton. picker mounted thereon, a n'iovable part-separated therefrom, and a-movemcnt multiply ng device.-

connecting the picker andthe movable part.

11. A-cot-ton picking-device -coinprising a wheel. a cotton picker carried by said wheel and movable with relation to said wheel, a movable part rotating with the wheel. and

movable with relation therctmand a multi- -plying-deviee For mnltiplving the motion of the movable part. connecting the inovable pa-it with-itho picker. I

12 A cotton picking device con p iising a ,wheeh a picker mounted thereon, a movable tatably attached, a rocking lever attached -to said bar, and meanslrfoi' moving said lever when: the piekers ineach' a predetermined :-point,so asto rapidly th rnst them through theguides. .7 i 1 18. A cottonpieking (lVlOB'CODIISIiSlHg a wheel, a series of' spirals? co 'ton pickers mounted thereon, ii'series'ofgi'ides carried by saidnvheel through which;saidxPickers. adapted tothe'y' iare'v'i'ecipro- 3 g I pass; said guides ,havin'ggmea-ns rotate the pickers cated, a bar 'hicl aid 'apicke'rs are 1'0 tata bly attached 'a; rocking lever attached to said bar, a iiovable pieceghaving-a connection with said leiieiy a rant on the axle of said wheel. andanE-engaging device on said movable piece adiifited to engage said cam. ,19. A cotton picking device comprising a vheel a series ofcottonpickers, a cam on V. the axle of said wheoha'nd comprising a central .part. with two separated cam. rings mountedthereonsideby side and adapted i i e moved relatively so as to vary the 3621: of the slot between them, a movable owe provided with an engaging device all gi'ted to pass between the cam rings, end t connection between said movable pert and iii-Z pickers.

' A cotton pickin device com rising at 3., e series of pie ere mounte thereon, fies of bars to which said pickers are acted, a rocking lever connected with of and bars, a movable device connected each of said rocking levers, the said bars qcctin between the said rocking levers 1 proximity with the hub of the wheel.

1 A cotton picking device comprising a 1 a series of pickers mounted thereon, "ies of bars to which said pickers are .n'rected said here provided with a series re? laterally projecting arms, each carrying ccker,-ectnating mechanism for moving chi here back and forth, and a multiplymg device associated with said actuating -n-vcheni'em.

22. A cotton picking. devieccomprising a a reciprocating picker mounted imrecn, a, moitiplying actuating device cons-ircted at one end with said picker and at he other end with a driving port associated with the device,

:53. A cotton picking device comprising a heel, picker mounted thereon and rotating wit iithe Wheel, means for moving the 'cr and iicr rapidly thmsting it out into cotton plant when the wheel reaches a etormined position, and means includ- 1 a multiplying device for multiplying r movement thereof.

24. A cotton pickin device com rising a wheel, a of pie ers mounte thereon and rotatin with the wheel, bars with which said p ckers ere'connected and guides extending across the wheel "and engaging said bars between. their ends 25, A cotton pickin device com rising a wheel, a series of pic-inns mounte thereon and rotating with the wheel, bars with which said pickers are connected and guides extending across the wheel and engaging said bars between their ends, arms con nected with said bars between the points where they engage said guides and means for moving said arms to reciprocate the pickers.

26. A cotton picking device comprising a Wheel and series of picker bare mounted on said wheel and ads ted to be moved back and forth, a series 0 pickers connected with said bars and a series of laterally projecting arms connected with said here, and pickers connected with said laterally promoting arms.

27. A cotton picking device comprising a wheel and series of picker hers mounted on said wheel and adopted to he moved back and forth, a series oi pickers connected with said bars and a series of laterelly projecting arms connected with said hers, and ickers connected with said laterally projecting arms, said laterally projecting arms pro jecting at various sng es from said bars.

- NA'IHANIEL BOWDITCH.

Witnesses:

Homer: L. KRAFT, LUCY A. Fannmvnsno, 

